UEFA President Michel Platini has mooted the idea of playing the European Championships in August, so that players taking part are less exhausted after a 10-month season.

"I've already proposed the idea of playing in August when the players have had a holiday," he told the French daily. "But it would need the agreement of the clubs, and it would mean re-aligning the calendar."

Platini also said the current competition was of "exceptional quality. I like the idea of national teams revitalizing the game as spectacle. History has proven that it's the national team which gives great players their reputation: Pelé, Maradona or Zidane all became greats when wearing their country's shirt." For his performances for France at the 1984 Euros, Platini might well have added his own name to that list.